Chatting with the inimitable Tarun Tahiliani feels like a warm hug every single time you meet him. His one-liners will leave you in splits and his youthful spirit is contagious. The veteran designer who has made ‘India modern’ his core, was in town to check out Indemoderne on Park Street, a “bootstrapped home furnishing start-up with an omnichannel strategy”, by sisters Gitanjali Satpathy and Brinda Chugani, Tarun’s first cousins. We caught up with him for an adda which was no-holds-barred, TT style.
Tell us what you love about Kolkata now...
Now, I love it everytime I come. I think it’s the best airport... it’s quick... Delhi T3, you can walk for a kilometre and a half. There are so many different things now. Most importantly, what do you judge on? When people are feeling good and there is hope in the city and excitement and the standard of things are going up and you see all the buildings starting to get painted. There is a new energy and that’s progress. Everyone doesn’t benefit from it, but many people are willing to work hard. The whole eastern board is buzzing.
When were you here last?
I must have been here straight after the pandemic to meet weavers.... Somehow all the big Kolkata families want to come to Delhi to shop. Firstly, they see many more designers... and that Mehrauli area has become the mecca for bridal fashion. The whole experience is something....
You have been crazy busy. We don’t think you have worked like this...
In my life I have never worked this hard. I don’t mind it. I love it. Actually Aditya Birla (Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) formed a strategic partnership with Tarun Tahiliani last year and launched a menswear brand called Tasva this year). Mr Birla (Kumar Mangalam Birla) has made it his personal project... opening 70 stores this year... in 35 years, I opened 11 stores, Ensemble and TT put together, and we are opening a beautiful one in Kolkata. It’s going to be stunning. I am a little nervous actually...
In our premium line, we design the samples and they do the production.
The pandemic changed me. The party boy, bye, bye. I am making the most of the time and if we don’t work and keep it going, the people who depend on us have no other means... we saw thousands of people starving, the migration.... So, we’ve moved a lot of embroidery units back to smaller towns... so that people can live at home, are safe and that’s a lifelong commitment.
Actually, I have never enjoyed it more. I feel we are doing our best work. Our stores are jam-packed in the north. It’s just great validation.
Tarun with Brinda Chugani (centre) and Gitanjali Satpathy, his cousins and the ladies who helm Indemoderne
Don’t you feel like taking a break?
I have already taken three breaks this year and I have been to only health spas and no one can reach me for six days. I pay someone to starve me. I lose weight. I get massaged and they insert things into my body (laughs)! Anyway, travel has become a bore right now. It’s a difficult thing to travel... so many people were sick. Look at what people are going through. You should be grateful to be so engaged.
I am coping with discipline. I work out and have one or two trainers everyday. I still need to lose weight, but I am doing better than I was. It’s a choice. Yesterday I took three flights... I landed at 2am in the morning in Kolkata.
Is this also the most challenging time because you have to keep in mind the price points and quality?
But so good for quality and innovation...
But that’s because it’s you. There are so many brands doing the same old thing...
I am only looking at my lane. You are galloping in your lane.
JJ Valaya told us the same...
I was so happy to see his new store (in Delhi). It has an Indian vibe but is still contemporary. It had elegance. I am happy to see him back.
What is a beautiful Indian classic for you?
I saw Rajesh Pratap’s pintuck shirt again and it’s one of the beautiful Indian classics... of calm, fine work... impeccably made and hung.
And, how is the new father-in-law doing?
I dote on my daughter-in-law, but luckily for her, she lives separately. So, I can’t be overbearing.
What is dressing the millennials teaching you?
Finally, they want to be comfortable. They are not going to suffer 25kg. Every function they are dancing. I think the millennials were born in a dance contest! They are much more relaxed. Even my daughter-in-law was like, ‘one little necklace’. Jewellery is besides the point. They just want to look beautiful, have fun and be free. I have been saying for years that that’s how people should be. Be themselves. Look like themselves. Value the experience. Make memories. Not for show.
TT’s season’s must-haves...
Definitely, a simple draped thing.
Definitely, an Anamika (Khanna) coat.... You can wear it to a wedding or with jeans.
I am loving all the cool, new funky brocade-y shoes that I see.
The swing coat.
TT corsets. They are amazing. I think we have taken corsets to the level of Mr Pearl (corset maker) now. During the pandemic, we sat and worked on the technique of how to make it light and how to fit the corset. We did R&D and that’s what you are seeing the effect of now.